Australia GeographyAustralia Maps

Australia is a country in the Southern hemisphere and belongs to Oceania. Australia/Oceania is the smallest continent of the seven continents and many consider it as the largest island in the world, however, Greenland is the biggest island country. Australia is an island continent surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, USA, China and Brazil.

The country is divided into six states (Southern Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania) and two self-governing territories: Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory (which is around Canberra, the capital city).

The main cities in Australia are: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra (capital city). The cities are all located at the coast or close to the coast.

The country's interior, which covers two thirds of the country, consist of desert landscape which is referred to as 'outback'. The main city in the country's interior is Alice Springs.

Australia Superlatives

The highest mountain of Australia is Mount Kosciuszko with 2.228metres or 7,310ft.

Ayers Rock also called 'Uluru' which is in the centre of the country is the largest alone standing rock in the world.

The longest river of Australia is the Murray River with 2,508km/1558 miles.

The Great Barrier Reef in Eastern Australia is the biggest coral reef in the world. The reef consists of more than 3,000 reefs in which live more than 350 species of corals and over 1,500 species of fish.

Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal

Australia is in fact the driest inhabited continent of the world.

Australia Facts:Australia Attractions for Kids

There are many great attractions in the country. Some of these are:

Adelaide: the main city in South Australia is surrounded with fertile agricultural and wine regions. Adelaide is also known for one of the largest Christmas parades in the world.

Annual Christmas parade in Adelaide

Arnhem Land: In the Northern Territory there is still a large population of indigenous Aborigines who have a deep spiritual connection with the land and proudly will share their experiences with visitors.

Aboriginal rock art in Arnhem Land

Australian Alps: Experience mountain landscapes in the snowy mountains and enjoy the fascinating remote wilderness. Great hiking in summer there too like here near lake Jindabyne.

Aerial view of the Australian Alps around Lake Jindabyne

Sydney: The iconic Opera House was opened in 1973 and was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. This is one of the world's most famous landmarks.

Brisbane: centre of the Australian Gold Coast with numerous resorts for an exciting beach holiday and a bit further to the north, there is the wonderful reef.

South Bank Parklands Beach in Brisbane

Great Barrier Reef: Great for snorkelling and diving. Cairns is a popular beach resort town on the Northern Coast.

Corals at the Great Barrier Reef

Kakadu National Park: Experience the excitement of a real jungle in Australia's biggest national park and one of the world's most unique forests and woodlands and one of Australia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There you can also admire the Northern Territories highest waterfalls, the Jim Jim Falls.

Jim Jim Falls

Perth: the biggest city in Western Australia with lovely Fremantle nearby

Australia - People

Australia's first or indigenous people, are usually referred to as the aboriginal people of Australia. They make up 2% of Australia's population today. The indigenous Australians are said to be direct descendants of migrants from Africa who left the African continent about 75,000 years ago. They have migrated over the Australasian continent until they settled in Australia around 60,000 years ago.

Today indigenous people live in all main cities but most of them still live in the desert areas of the Australian outback. On the image above, you can see a man playing the didgeridoo, a kind of wooden trumpet, which is really difficult to play.

The 'outback' is the vast, dry and remote inland parts of the Australian continent. Some aboriginal people live still in the sacred area around Ayres Rock, a huge rock formation in the centre of the continent. They are highly skilled in arts and crafts and share with visitors their vast knowledge about the land and the environment.

Ayers Rock or Uluru as the rock formation is called by the aboriginal people of Australia

The indigenous people call this sacred mountain 'Uluru'. They also settle in the Northern Territory in Kakadu National Park, which they call 'Arnhem Land', the land of their ancestors.

Australia is home to many animal species. In fact, Australia houses more than 10% of the world's biodiversity (animals and plant varieties).

Among the most well-known Australian animals are kangaroos, wombats, koalas and the dingo.

Roadsign in Australia

Roadsigns in Australia warn drivers about wild animals mainly kangaroos that might hop across the roads.

Kangaroos are marsupials, which means, they carry their babies in their pouches. See the cute little joey (this is how baby kangaroos are called).

Wombats are also marsupials. Wombats have sharp teeth, but are herbivores. This means they eat grasses, bark and roots. Wombats are mainly night-active, but can also be seen out looking for food on cool and overcast days, such as this wombat on the picture below.